Maryland General Assembly Adopts Statewide Speed CamerasMaryland looks to reap millions by approving speed cameras on freeways and side streets.

The Maryland state House on Thursday voted 90-45 to approve a measure authorizing speed cameras on freeways and secondary roads throughout the state. The vote followed the state Senate adoption of a similar measure by a 26-21 margin earlier in the week. The measures were sponsored by Governor Martin O'Malley (D) who sees photo enforcement as a key to boosting budget revenue.

Under the legislation, speed cameras can be deployed anywhere in the state to deal out $40 tickets anywhere the speed limit is 45 MPH or less. Cameras were first approved for Montgomery County where the devices have generated $7.5 million in profit by being installed on roads with high traffic volume, but no significant accident history. The new state measure is also designed to ensnare travelers on Interstate 95 and other highways with areas marked as "work zones" where the speed limits are lowered, regardless of the lack of actual work taking place. Freeway tickets are also $40 each.

Slight differences between the text of the Senate and House versions of the legislation must be resolved before being sent to O'Malley to be signed into law. The full text of the Senate legislation is available in a 300k PDF file at the source link below.